Try always to understand the sense. There is always a sense behind the context. I've done before lists memorization and it is helpful to get used to the foreign sounds, but once you put the words in the context your memory will rearrange the place you have memorized before and new synaptic links will be settled.

I speak portuguese and spanish and many times people ask to me if I make confusion but there is a lot of nuances between both languages. Now imagine inside english, you find alike sounds, but you will always find that it is the context that rules the meaning of the sense.

When you reach advanced levels, you won't confuse world with word, mace with maze, grace with grey. You always find subtle differences and you are already familiar with these. 

Try to practice phonics. I teach english here in Brazil with American English Oxford and I always train with them this aspect.

Train can be a verb or the noun, you see?

Remember, there aren't similar words. The orthographie may be a diversion for us because english is written so fancied. If you want to improve your skills, learn spanish.